What do people think about the State? How important is it for the political system? To address these questions, this study begins with the hypothesis that the culture of a population is relevant for the individual attitudes and orientations towards politics and, more precisely, towards the role of the State. Using a comparative analysis of international social surveys, we conclude that the same way that economic, political and demographic variables matter, cultural factors help to explain attitudes that are more or less in favour of a State more present in society.